Under pressure, DHS releases high-profile illegals

Obama flooded with phone calls after activist's relatives arrested

Published: 01/11/2013 at 11:57 PM

(Washington Times) Federal authorities released the mother and brother of a prominent illegal immigrant activist Friday morning after Hispanic and immigrant-rights activists objected and flooded the Obama administration with phone calls.

Erika Andiola, a prominent illegal immigrant Dream Act activist who qualified for President Obama’s new non-deportation policy, said her mother and older brother were arrested at their Arizona home overnight Thursday, but both have been released following the outcry and pressure on Homeland Security officials.

But she and other activists said the arrest should push the administration to halt all deportations and instead legalize the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. — something they said Hispanics earned through the power of their votes in the 2012 elections.